Do Plank Pushups Help With Breakdancing?

Breakdancing requires a tremendous amount of upper-body, core and lower-back strength to be successful at performing different moves. One popular move in breakdancing circles is the planche. The planche requires you to hold your body off of the ground with only the use of your hands. Plank pushups can help you develop the strength and body control you need to prepare yourself for performing this particular maneuver.

Plank

Before you can begin performing plank pushups, you must first master the standard plank exercise. Start with your forearms on the ground so that they are angled toward each other at the wrist. Put your feet together and extend them away from your body. Your toes should be on the floor with your heels elevated. Your body should form a straight line with no excess curving in your hips or back. Draw your navel into your waist. Hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Plank Pushup

The plank pushup involves getting into the initial plank position with your forearms and feet on the ground. Your body needs to form a straight line between your ankles, hips, back and neck. Make sure to keep a 90-degree angle between your upper arm and forearm at your elbow joint. Now, lift your right forearm off of the floor and put your right hand on the ground and straight out your right arm. Lift your left forearm off of the ground and put your left hand on the floor and straighten out your left arm. Put your right forearm back on the floor and then your left forearm. Repeat this movement but start with your left hard. Continue rotating until you have performed a total of 10 pushups.

Pushup to Side Plank

The pushup to side plank is a variation of the plank pushup that will help you develop strength you needed to put rotation on your planches. Start in a traditional pushup position with your hands on the ground with your arms fully extended and your toes on the ground with your legs fully extended. Lower your body to the ground by bending your elbows. Touch the ground with your chest and push yourself back up. After your arms are extended, lift your right hand off of the ground and rotate your body counter-clockwise so your body is in a stacked position, with your left arm, back and right arm forming a straight line.

Considerations

Developing strength to perform planches and other breakdancing moves is a critical part of becoming a better break dancer; however, these exercises should not be a substitute for practicing the actual moves themselves. You can further increase the difficulty of these pushup and plank variations by performing them with one foot on the ground at a time. Remember to challenge yourself by performing more repetitions and longer holds from week to week. The more difficult the plank pushups are for you, the more strength with crossover to breakdancing moves.